Middlesbrough 0 Leeds 2

Stephane Sessegnon struck in extra-time to break Middlesbrough hearts as Sunderland booked an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Arsenal in dramatic style.

QPR were the standout big spenders as the transfer window slammed shut last night.

Sunderland 1 Middlesbrough 1

Wales 0 New Zealand 36

Middlesbrough went second in the npower Championship after goals by Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes guided them to a 2-0 win over Derby.

MANAGER Dave Jones apologised to Cardiff’s fans after their automatic promotion hopes were shattered by a 3-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough.

Wales centre Tom Shanklin has announced his retirement from rugby due to a knee injury.

NEXT week’s annual Positive Farmers Conference is billed by organisers as the most important dairy conference in Ireland in 25 years.

Munster lock Paul O'Connell is named on the bench for tomorrow night's Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park Stadium.

All Black Casey Laulala returns to the centre for Cardiff Blues against Connacht in the Magner's League tomorrow evening (7.05pm) at Cardiff City Stadium.

Coach Dai Young will look to trigger a reaction from his players at home to Ulster in the Magners League tomorrow night.

MANCHESTER CITY defender Dedryck Boyata received the perfect compensation for missing a family Christmas when he was handed his senior debut at Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough 0 Manchester City 1

Cardiff Blues have been severely handicapped by the call-up of seven first-team players by the Welsh national team ahead of the Magners League clash with Leinster at The RDS on Saturday.

Middlesbrough 3 Ipswich 1

Republic of Ireland 0 Australia 3

Republic of Ireland 0 Australia 2

AUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek continues to test out his options ahead of next year’s World Cup after naming three newcomers and recalling Ante Covic and Patrick Kisnorbo to the squad for the friendly against the Republic of Ireland on August 12 at Thomond Park in Limerick.

Wales boss John Toshack has named captain Craig Bellamy in his squad for the next two World Cup qualifiers even though he is a serious doubt due to a knee injury.

Theo Walcott returned to the Arsenal bench from a four-month lay-off with a shoulder injury for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Burnley.

Middlesbrough midfielder Josh Walker has signed a new contract which will keep him at the Riverside Stadium until 2011.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is facing up to a defensive crisis as he prepares for Arsenal’s visit to the Riverside Stadium tomorrow.

Second-row Deiniol Jones, number eight Xavier Rush and scrmu-half Richie Rees all return from injury for Friday night’s Magner's League clash against Connacht at The Arms Park (7.05).

Middlesbrough 5 Yeovil 1

Midfielder Gary O’Neil has recovered from a calf strain and is expected to start for Middlesbrough in their Premier League opener against Tottenham at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow.

Wales 25 France 13

Wales are hoping to make it three from three in this year's U-18 Six Nations Festival in Cork but the young Welsh players will be sternly tested by France who are on the hunt for a first win.

Wales and Italy have named their sides to play each other at the Mardyke this Saturday at 2.30pm in the U-18 Six Nations Festival sponsored by the Bowen Group.

PBC CORK’s Brian O’Hara has the honour of leading Ireland out before his hometown crowd for their opening game of the U18 Six Nations festival tonight (Musgrave Park, 7.30pm).

Glasgow Warriors 17 Cardiff Blues 5

Newport Gwent Dragons 13 Cardiff Blues 40

Cardiff Blues 17 Ospreys 15

IT took a late David Humphreys penalty to deny Leinster the Magners League title on the final lap last year but there was no need for drama in the Arms Park last night, where the Irish side’s ambitions disappeared long before the last act.

Cardiff Blues 27 Leinster 11

Llanelli 38 Cardiff 10

Cardiff Blues 20 Ulster 17

Cardiff Blues 48 Edinburgh 0

LEICESTER are hurtling towards a Pool Four decider against European champions Munster in Limerick tomorrow week, but they cannot allow such an enticing prospect to overshadow their Welford Road appointment with Cardiff Blues this afternoon (3pm, Sky Sports).

World championship 400metres finalist Tim Benjamin has described the rigours of training under Colin Jackson as leaving him physically sick.

DENIS HICKIE will make his first competitive start of the season in tonight’s Magners League against Cardiff Blues at Donnybrook.

Sports kit maker Umbro said today that it saw record demand from shops for England football shirts ahead of the World Cup.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney will name his team to play their final Celtic League game of the season against the Cardiff Blues at lunchtime today, but may have to do without two international greats.

Cardiff 30 Connacht 12